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Wednesday, December 23, 2015

A photo of several stray dogs sleeping inside a Greek cafe is touching dog lovers’ hearts around the world after it was posted to social media. The picture shows a group of street dogs napping on the cushioned benches of the coffee shop after the business owners open their doors every evening after closing shop.The cafe, Hott Spott in Mytilene, Lesbos, lets the local stray dogs in so they can use the sofas and sleep without getting cold. They have been sleeping at the cafe since the summer, according to The Independent.Antonis, a waiter at the cafe, said, “In the city there are many dogs. When the bar closes each night, the dogs come and sleep here. We don’t have a problem. From July, every night there is a dog on the couch.”

Street dogs in Greece are monitored and managed differently from other European countries. The dogs are often microchipped, vaccinated, neutered and spayed when possible and collared and cared for by the community at large. This is done rather than having the dogs corralled and put into crowded shelters.One street dog named Sausage became a household name in Athens, Greece a few years ago after he marched alongside demonstrators during the country’s economic crisis. “In most European countries, they solve this problem [of stray dogs] with euthanasia. But Greek culture is against that.Our law is about rehabilitating the dogs,” explained the head of Athens’ Stray Animal Service when asked about the city’s strays. “People here take care of them and love them. They are like everyone’s dog.”It would seem that this cafe in Lesbos is doing just that!Share this touching act of kindness with your family and friends!